Cennet Köse Rivera was born and raised in Turkey, where she lived until her departure for the U.S.A., in August, 2008. In June, 1996, she received a Bachelor’s of Arts in Arabic Language and Literature, from the Department of Foreign Languages, of the Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey. More recently, as part of the Master Adjunct Faculty of the Howard Community College (HCC), she teaches beginning and intermediate Turkish language classes, on campus, in Columbia, Maryland. A strong advocate for interactive, computer-aided instruction, she has implemented CANVAS (Learning Management System) modules containing the syllabi for the five Turkish courses that she teaches.

Ms. Köse Rivera’s professional interests focus on foreign culture and language, history and architecture, and the field of International Hospitality. While in Ankara, she worked at the American Research Institute in Turkey (ARIT), as Administrative Assistant, Librarian and Assistant Director, during the 1989 to 2003 period; and was the General Manager of the Ankara Residence Hotel, from 2004 to 2008.

Furthermore, as part of her current extracurricular activities, she serves as Past President for the Maryland American Turkish Association (MATA); a non-profit, charitable, cultural, and educational organization that strives to convey a sense of community to those individuals of Turkish-American heritage, and those interested in Turkish language and matters. In that capacity, since May, 2014, she actively assists in the coordination, development and implementation of the lesson content of the Turkish Online Learning Program (Bright Future Project) being developed by the Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA), as a member of their e-Learning Education Committee.